Having second thoughts about getting LT Headers.

I was all ready to buy some Jet Hot long tubes and an ORY but I keep reading posts about people that loose a lot of low end torque and the end up getting steeper gears. I like my 2.73 and didnt plan on changing them. I dont know If I will ever get to do a cam. Probably not.

So if i just plan on doing intake and exhaust do you guys think I should still get LT? Will It make my car actually faster and It just feels slower?

they will definately make the car feel faster...

the only thing i noticed with the "loss of low end" was when i was pulling out form a stop...and i think that may have been psychological. since ti was louder i was thinking i was at a higher rpm than i was...and it would bog a bit.

do them you won't regret it!!

You can always go with mids, they have smaller primaries so you will still have a nice low end with a better top end then you have now.

If the car is always going to be just an intake and exhaust car, then find yourself some coated mid lengths headers with good spark plug access. :cool:

yea, that low end torque moves more up to the middle
you'd be a real highway beast though with those 2.73s and intake/full exhaust:)

I agree with Kataklysm and rpm4lalo, if you'r car is going to be limited to only a few mods then mids is a great choice. :)

You can look at my dyno chart and see what MAC Mids look like. The low end TQ gain was awesome and so was the top end. At the lowest RPM that I measured on the dyno (2100 RPM's) I gained 37 rwtq over a stock Z28. At 5700 rpm, the gain was 40 rwtq over a stock Z28. My mods are CAI, MAC mids, and Hooker Catback

Dan

Any other opinions? What If I plan on doing a stall(atleast a 3200)? Would that switch it so I should get long tubes since my rpm will be higher?

also Does anyone have a dyno graph after installing Long Tubes?

the only thing i noticed with the "loss of low end" was when i was pulling out form a stop...and i think that may have been psychological. since ti was louder i was thinking i was at a higher rpm than i was...and it would bog a bit.


I had the same experience; I found myself shifting at a much lower rpm than I should many times just because the noise starts to get high fairly fast.
The main difference, besides the noise, the burnt plug wires, the loss of clearance and loose bolts (not scared yet?) is that the car is much much stronger on the highway with the LT than with the stock manifolds.

I know others have had different experiences, but for me changing the plugs has turned from a real pain to horrible with the LT; but they're great!

btw, get them coated; I didn't and I should have.

I need to change my spark plugs when I get LT?

no, but eventually you will change them and that's always a major difficulty.

btw, does anybody have a trick/spell/whatever to change the last two on the passenger side? I can not even put a socket on the plug, I tried an open wrench too, etc.

I haven't had burnt wires or a problem accessing my spark plugs... then again I'm kind of a neat-freak under the hood, everything is tucked away nicely, and I have cool tools for plugs.

not sure of plug access on the lt1...

but my flowtech longtubes allow VERY easy access to all the plugs. i honestly can swap plugs in less than 30 mins :cool:

i honestly can swap plugs in less than 30 mins :cool:

I must do something wrong... it took me 8 hours last time! I simply couldn't put a socket on one of them and with an open wrench, there wasn't enough room to turn the plug even a little bit.

is there some specific tool that makes the job easy?

i think the LS1 access is easier on plugs...

took me 4 hours to do plugs/wires on my LT1 a few years ago...

if i remember correctly, pull the passenger motor mount bolt, jack the motor up and you can access all plugs with ease from the top

How often should plugs me cahnged? also Are the stocker ones just fine?

Contrary to popular belief numerous tests have shown that longtubes actually keep peak torque the lowest compared to mids and shorties, so if you're looking for keeping the most low end grunt you can get longtubes. Small and long primaries are what you'll want.